It is very boring topics for most of the people even though everyone can see the quality and quantity of drinking water availability going down day by day.Ground water level is going down every year and above ground water is getting polluted. Maybe sometimes what is required to highlight the concern is the charisma of a religious leader. In a societly where we are forgetting our duties towards protecting environment and have no time to voice concern about environment, Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal who was instrumental eralier in taking up the onus on him to awake people's consciosness towards environment and mobilise people to take up the task of cleaning up the Kali bain in Sultanpur Lodhi.This week was it was fortune of village of Nahla. Sant and his followers shut off the flow of Kala Sanghia drain. This drain is getting constanly chemically polluted water from industries and factories in the area. Though indutries are required to have treatment plant to clean the water before releasing into drain and get clearance from pollution control board but everyone knows the real world procedure to get the clearance certificate. It is about time people realise the importance of this issue and maybe this concern won't be dead.

Remember this blog is not endorsing anyone particular person or any of Sant's teachings, but we do appreciate the environmental awareness being spread by Sant Seechewal. Maybe more of our leaders will raise these real issues rather than dividing the society on racial or religious lines.

The 631st Sri Guru Ravidas Jayanti was celebrated with great fervour in Jalandhar at various places. Sri Guru Ravidas lived in the 15th century, was one of the great poet-saints of north India. He lived in Benares. His teachings are prominently included in the Sikh Holy Book,Sri Guru Granth Sahib.There is also a larger body of hymns passed on independently of the Guru Granth Sahib.

Guru Ravidas was born in a village near Varanasi, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India in 1376. His father was a leather merchant. He was born in a poor family. Nonetheless he rose to a position of great honour through a life of simplicity and piety. He set an example for his followers to break the barriers set up by so called upper castes and set a philosophical and armed path for freedom. He incited his followers against cruel ruling class. He motivated his followers for a sovereign state of Begampura.

He was the first to motivate his followers to challenge discrimination on the grounds of caste. Because of his charismatic deeds, he has become an important figure in the Whole World, his followers calling themselves Ravidasis. He was the first to motivate his followers to make/call them untouchables who make/call them so. By his deeds he proved that he was a high caste, although others were calling him a low caste. He was the first to scientifically prove the highness of his caste.

Some of His prominent hymns:

अब कैसे छूटे राम, नाम रट लागी |
प्रभुजी तुम चन्दन हम पानी, जाकी अंग अंग बास समानि |
प्रभुजी तुम घन बन हम मोरा, जैसे चितवत चन्द चकोरा |
प्रभुजी तुम दीपक हम बाती, जाकी जोति बरै दिन राती |
प्रभुजी तुम मोती हम धागा, जैसे सोने मिलत सुहागा |
प्रभुजी तुम स्वामी हम दासा, ऐसी भक्ति करै रैदासा |

Melas were organised at different places around Jalandhar.One of bif Mela was organised around Nakodar Road. There was abundant shops selling Tikki Samosa,Jalebis. There were magic shows. There was a big crowd with people visting not only from Jalandhar but from all around the world. Mela on Ravidas Jayanti at Nakodar Road is being organised for more than 50 years now. It was organised on Nakodar Road from Ravidas Chowk to Buta Mandi and Lambra Road. Many house had very colourful lightings and also people were celebrating with firecrackers.

Jalandhar lost one of its brightest jewel that not many Jalandharies know of. He did not like publicity much as he shied away from press. His name is Sudarshan Fakir. He was the source behind so many famous Ghazals,poems and film songs.. He was 72 years old. He penned many of maous ghazals sung by Jagit Singh. He was fighting with cancer for a long time.He died on Monday in a private Hospital.He was cremated in Model Town on Tuesday.

"Yeh Daulat bhi le Lo yEh shohrat bhi lelo..." whoi can forget that. He also penned Yalgar song" aakhitr tujhe aana hai" or"Aadmi AAdami ko kya dega" or "Hey Ram" sung by Jagjit Singh. Fakir did MA in political science and English from DAV College, Jalandhar. He started his career with AIR (All India Radio) and came out with a successful album "The Latest" in 80s.He also wrote lyrics for movies like Dooriyan and Prem Agan as well as dialogues for the film ‘Yalgaar’.

Fakir is survived by his wife Sudesh, son Manav, daughter-in-law Ishita and grandson Aryaman.

आज के दौर में ऐ दोस्त ये मंज़र क्यों है
ज़ख़्म हर सर पे हर हाथ में पत्थर क्यों है
— सुदर्शन फ़ाकिर —

In his own words:

zindagii tujh ko jiyaa hai koii afsos nahii.n
Sudarshan Fakir

zindagii tujh ko jiyaa hai koii afsos nahii.n
zahar Khud mai.ne piyaa hai koii afsos nahii.n

mai.ne mujarim ko bhii mujarim na kahaa duniyaa me.n
bas yahii jurm kiyaa hai koii afsos nahii.n

merii qismat me.n likhe the ye u.nhii.n ke aa.Nsuu
dil ke zaKhmo.n ko siyaa hai koii afsos nahii.n

ab gire sa.ng ki shiisho.n kii ho baarish 'Fakir'
ab kafan o.D liyaa hai koii afsos nahii.n

He will be missed by all music lovers especially Jalandharies. Pay your homage in comments section below.

With the Khali fighting a frenzy gripped whole of Jalandhar. T-shirts with pictures of WWE wrestlers have been selling in the past also but this time there is more demand for the T-shirts carrying photos of Khali. Media has also played a big part in popularising the fight.

Jalandharies not only idetify him as a indian but because he is a Jalandhari and brought proud to this city.Khali, who originally hailed from a village in Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh, but he lived and worked here with the Punjab police before moving to the US to pursue a WWE career. He can be seen sometimes roaming around Jalandhar.

Khali was handpicked in the mid-1990s by the then additional director general of police (ADGP) M.S. Bhullar, himself a great sports enthusiast, to be a wrestler with the Punjab Armed Police (PAP) at its complex here. Even though Dalip Singh continues to be on the rolls of the Punjab Police, he mostly lives in the US and is now one of the big names in the WWE circuit.

Two years ago, the Punjab Police placed Khali under suspension as he failed to return and join the force after the expiry of his sanctioned leave. Later, he was given exemption and allowed to pursue WWE in the US.

But this frenzy also reminds us of the fact why is WWE so popular even though it is fake. Some people think it is plain cheating while other argue same is true of any movie or tv sertials. All of them are fake . But this is just another form of entertainment. While people knoe mvoies and TV are fake but not all the people know that this form of wrestling is totally fake. It is playing with people's emotions. No denying the fact that it is funny,dramatic,cruel,sensitive in all total entertainment.

Please share your viewpoint.

I have been getting a lot of emails from all over the world about poem written by Sandeep as it is reminding people of their sweet memories. So I am posting it here so people can add comments. Thanks Sandeep.

I do not want to get into politics, but Balbir Singh was definately a famous Jalandhari and was respected leader across all parties. There might be difference of opinion between people about his legacy, but there is no doubt he was a popular and famous Jalandhari .

Former Congress MP, Balbir Singh, who was not keeping well for the last few months.Balbir Singh died late last night. He was 69. Singh was Congress MP from Jalandhar from 1999 to 2004. After he was denied ticket in 2004, he resigned from the party and joined Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).
Singh also served as state Health Minister from 1972 to 1977 and was member of Rajya Sabha from 1992 to 1998. Mr Singh, 69, leaves behind his wife and son and daughter.

His last rites will be performed on 02/15 at 1400 hrs at Model Town cremation ground. Mr Singh hailing from Shankar village was the nephew of former Foreigh Minister, the late Swaran Singh and was the grandson of former SGPC president Partap Singh.

Under the guidance of Mr Swaran Singh, he became a member of the Congress and contested his first election in 1972 from Jalandhar Cantt assembly constituency. After his victory he was inducted into the Cabinet by the then Chief Minister, the late Giani Zail Singh. He remained the Health Minister of the state from 1972-1977.

He became a Rajya Sabha member from Punjab in 1987 and thereafter in 1999, he contested the Lok Sabha elections from the Jalandhar constituency and emerged victorious.

However after being denied the Congress ticket for the 2004 Lok Sabha polls, he quit the Congress and joined the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). He was inducted into the Working Committee of the party and also became a member of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of the party.

Since 1973, he has been the president of the Governing Council of the city-based Lyallpur Khalsa college He also remained the patron of the Punjab NRI Sabha.

May his soul rest in peace and our condolences are with his family. Please write your Shardhanjalis in the comments below.

Jalandhar is slowly but surely catching upto big metros. It will soon become the shopping and entertainment centre of Punjab There are following big malls coming to Jalandhar:

1. The Grand Starcity multiplex which would provide more facilities including five theatre halls, a discotheque, a kids zone, ATM facilities, franchisee coffee shops, jewellery shop, apparel showrooms and much more are all set to lure the residents of the city. The two-storey multiplex would have a basement and play station  for the kids or kids at heart. The ground floor will be  for the restaurant and the international brand clothing showrooms. The multiplex is supposed to have outlets of KFC, Pizza Hut, Banie and Pizza Corner for the foodstuff and Carton London, USL, Royal Sporting, Adidas, Killer Jeans, K-Lounge, Pepe and Nike for the clothing.

2. Ansal Highway Plaza is a retail shopping mall that would soon be launched in Jalandhar. it is supposed to have top-of-the-line brands in menswear, womenwear and kidswear, leading music and electronic stores, sports brand, accessories and memorabilia.

3.The galleria, another mall with double basement is built near the Lal Rattan Cinema Hall of the city. It would be a blend of retail outlets, commercial office space, food court, different restaurants and cafes. The mall is being built in an area of 1.6 lakh sq ft and have connectivity to almost all the residential and commercial complexes of the city.

For those Jalandharies who do not know, Sukhmit Singh Deputy,local councillor and  a rising star of local politics confessed to the kidnapping of City youth Gagan Mickey and releasing him after getting a ransom of 1 crore. So basically case has been cracked relatively quickly by local police and nabbed all of main accused. But rumors and conspiracy theories are going around Jalandhar about involvement of other high profile people.

Good job Punjab Police for solving case quickly.

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As of now even after a month has passed, this mystery has not been solved. For those of you that do not know Rita Bawa was the principl of Kanya Maha Vidyalya, a pestigious girl college in Jalandhar. She was found murdered on Jan 05,2008 along with her cook and two security guards. This high profile quadruple shook the otherwise quite city as far as murders. There were so many rumors and suspicion was raised about the involvement of some high profile people. There were rumors of sex scandal and suspicion was that someone was there to recover some CDs from her residence. Even a suspected illicit relation was viewed as a possible reason.

There were other theories as a big amount of cash was recovered from her house. Also propert dealings and involvement of cook in the muder was being investigated. If anyone knows more please help police crack this case.

You can also post comments to this story. But please do not name anyone.

Keep Jalandhar Safe !